Wood Trucking Corp.

Family-owned Wood Trucking Corp. creates an enduring legacy as a processed and recycled material provider in Massachusetts

Wood Trucking Corp.’s journey began in 1971 with a married couple and a pickup truck. Robert and Linda Wood cleaned up backyards, and over time, they added six-wheelers and eventually a 10-wheeler. In 1978, Robert began screening loam, which laid the foundation for the company’s future success. Wood Trucking Corp. now operates a yard for recycling, selling loam, and processing concrete and asphalt into state-spec packs.

Robert Wood, Owner/President

“My wife and I built this business, but she passed away three years ago, so I’m continuing it,” noted Robert.

Today, Wood Trucking Corp. has 28 employees, including three generations of the Wood family.

“I started off learning everything right from the bottom up,” said Yard Manager Jonathan Wood Sr., Robert’s son. “I was shoveling the screeners out, weed whacking, and cleaning the animals on our farm. Eventually, I got my CDL license and started driving the trucks before I switched to the dirt yard division, and I’ve been there ever since.”

Jonathan Wood Sr., Yard Manager

Jonathan Sr. now oversees the operations of the company alongside three of his five children, who each bring unique skills and expertise to the table. Patrick Wood, an operator, grew up learning the ins and outs of the business by operating machines alongside his grandfather. Similarly, Jonathan Wood Jr., a truck driver and a mechanic, spent his youth learning from his father and mechanics in the shop. Madison Taylor, an accountant, handles the company’s billing and financial responsibilities.

The Wood family’s strong bond and ability to work together has contributed significantly to the company’s success.

Wood Trucking Corp. employees work in tandem at the company’s yard in Peabody, Mass.

“We’ve got a close family, and we all get along very well,” said Jonathan Sr. “Since we all work in different parts of the business, we aren’t on top of each other all day. I think that’s why it works.”

Based in Peabody, Mass., Wood Trucking Corp. caters to the Boston metro area and services locations around Woburn, Lexington and Wakefield. The family business has built strong relationships with gas companies, landscapers, cities and towns by providing high-quality services and top-notch customer support.

Operator Patrick Wood pushes material with a Komatsu WA500 wheel loader, and operator Butch Amor moves material to a higher bench with a Komatsu PC360LC excavator. “[The WA500 is] a strong and powerful machine for what you need it to do, and it will never let you down,” said Patrick.

Yard operations

At its yard, Wood Trucking Corp. processes and recycles a variety of materials, including loam, three-quarter stone, inch-and-a-half-stone, sand, salt, bark mulch, and the “Woody-pack” (an in-house concrete base layer created by Robert). These materials arrive on trucks from projects throughout the Boston area. Once sorted, processed and recycled, the material is sold back to companies in the community.

According to Patrick, the company’s success goes hand in hand with its dedication to servicing its customers.

“We’re open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, but if one of our primary customer’s trucks needs something on a Sunday, we pick up the phone and go down to the yard,” said Patrick. “Whether they need a yard or a full load, we’re there to take care of them.”

Patrick Wood, Operator

For its daily operations, Wood Trucking Corp. relies heavily on its Komatsu equipment, including two WA500 wheel loaders, a PC360 excavator, two PC290 excavators, and a PC270 excavator equipped with a hammer attachment.

“I’ve run a couple of other machines, and Komatsu’s got the most power for me when it goes into piles,” commented Patrick, who operates a WA500 every day. “The ride control is amazing in it. Everything about the machine is very good and stable. It’s a strong and powerful machine for what you need it to do, and it will never let you down.”

The WA500 wheel loaders replaced the company’s WA470 models, and the upgrade has made a significant difference in the busy yard’s ability to handle work efficiently.

Jonathan Wood Jr., Truck Driver/Mechanic

“With our older WA470 loaders, we’d have to use three buckets to fill a tri-axle truck; with the 500, it’s two buckets and they’re out the door,” explained Jonathan Sr. “It’s very productive.”

The yard’s operations also involve sorting mixed loads of asphalt, concrete and dirt. The materials are then rescreened, separated and processed into sellable products. Jonathan Sr. appreciates the versatility and productivity of the Komatsu equipment in the yard, particularly the PC360, which is used for various tasks like feeding screeners and moving piles.

Butch Amor, an operator who runs the new PC360, added, “I love the machine. It’s got the extra length on the dipper. Compared to the 290, I have about eight feet more of reach. Now, I can scoop the material and throw it up to the next bench instead of having to walk the machine.”

Butch Amor, Operator

Loyal partnerships, exceptional service

Wood Trucking Corp. has been a loyal customer of Komatsu equipment and the C.N. Wood Co. Inc. dealership for over 50 years. Wood Trucking Corp.’s relationship with C.N. Wood goes beyond business transactions; it has become a partnership built on trust. Robert credits his long-standing relationship with Bob Benard, the founder of C.N. Wood, for his continued loyalty to Komatsu.

“The relationship Bob Benard and I had was really good,” said Robert. “I could talk to him, and he would help us out when we needed anything. I stay with Komatsu because of the loyalty that I have to Bob Benard, the respect he showed our company, and the continued support we’ve received from C.N. Wood.”

In addition to the Wood family’s dedication and the reliability of the Komatsu machinery, Wood Trucking Corp.’s success can be attributed to the excellent service provided by C.N. Wood, including its dedicated team of mechanics and sales representatives who have played an essential role in Wood Trucking Corp.’s growth. Product Support Sales Representative (PSSR) Amanda Brooks has been particularly helpful in ensuring the company’s equipment is well-maintained and operational.

(L-R) Wood Trucking Corp. employees Jonathan Wood Sr., Jonathan Wood Jr., Robert Wood, and Patrick Wood work directly with C.N. Wood’s KC Causer to keep their yard operations running smoothly.

“I order all my teeth and all my cutting edges with her,” said Jonathan Sr. “One time, I broke a windshield, and I was in a jam, and she came up with a windshield for me that same day.”

Kerry “KC” Causer, a C.N. Wood sales representative, also supports Wood Trucking Corp.

“KC is always hands-on and regularly visits the yard to ensure everything is running smoothly,” noted Jonathan Sr. “He is not afraid to engage with the operators and genuinely cares about the company’s success.”

Operator Butch Amor extends the arm of a Komatsu PC360LC excavator. “I love the machine,” Butch commented. “Compared to the 290, I have about eight feet more of reach.”

Looking ahead

The Woods are proud of their accomplishments and the legacy they have built. They are eager to continue growing the business and passing it on to future generations.

“I’ve watched my father build this company from the ground up,” reflected Jonathan Sr. “I’m very proud of him. He’s made it a family business, and we’ve got a lot of guys outside of our family who have been here 20 to 30 years. He’s definitely done something right.”

Patrick hopes to add another material yard or sand pit to expand the company further.

“We want to get bigger and better as the years go on,” said Patrick. “I also think it’s important to sit back, watch, and appreciate the time our family gets to spend together. The company is a good size now, but my brother and I envision building on this foundation and seeing where we can take the business.” ■